walk out

walk out

1. verb To abandon or leave someone. I can't believe you would even consider walking out on your family when they need you the most! My dad walked out when I was just a baby, so I've never met him.

2. verb To leave something abruptly, often because one is displeased or unhappy. That movie was so terrible that I actually walked out before it was over.

3. verb To go on strike. The union workers plan to walk out as soon as the contract expires.

4. verb To temporarily leave a place (by literally walking outside) as part of a protest, typically one's school or place of employment. The students walked out to call for gun reform.

5. verb To escort or accompany someone as they leave a particular building or place. A noun or pronoun can be used between "walk" and "out." Your sister's leaving now, so please walk her out. Make sure you walk out Grandma—she has trouble going down those steps.

6. noun A protest in which people leave a place (by literally walking outside), typically their school or place of employment. As a noun, the phrase is usually hyphenated or spelled as one word. There were massive walkouts across the country today by students calling for gun reform.

See also: out, walk

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

walk someone out

to accompany someone out, walking. I'll walk you out. The exit is hard to find. Please let me walk you out so you don't get lost.

See also: out, walk

walk out (on something)

Fig. to leave a performance (of something by someone). We didn't like the play at all, so we walked out. John was giving a very dull speech, and a few people even walked out on him.

See also: out, walk

walk out

(on someone) Fig. to abandon someone; to leave one's spouse. Mr. Franklin walked out on Mrs. Franklin last week. Bob walked out on Jane without saying goodbye.

See also: out, walk

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

walk out

1. Go on strike, as in The union threatened to walk out if management would not listen to its demands. [Late 1800s]

2. Leave suddenly, especially as a sign of disapproval. For example, The play was so bad we walked out after the first act. [First half of 1800s]

3. Also, walk out on. Desert, abandon, as in He walked out on his wife and five children. [Late 1800s]

See also: out, walk

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

walk out

v.

1. To abandon or forsake one's family or other personal relationship: After ten years of marriage, she walked out. He walked out on his family and moved to California.

2. To leave suddenly, often as a signal of disapproval: Offended by the testimony, the senator walked out of the hearing.

3. To go on strike: The contract negotiations stalled, so the union walked out.

See also: out, walk

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.